The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-01

I've had dirty Job to do, he said, apol-
ogetically, "and it had to be finished to-
night. l never thought l should be so
long about it, though. say, Lynette, Tn
awfully hungry, and don't know how to
get any breakfast except by going down to
the yacht for it.
"Do," cried Lynette, ''and take me. l
shan't sleep any more this morning"
John departed to "cIean himself" while
Lynette hurried into blue serge dress,
and was ready as soon as he was They
stole out of their rooms and down the cor
ridor to the forbidden region. Lynette
shuddered as they came upon the staircase
with its broken rail- A rush of cold air
and gray light came up from somewhere
below, and the head of Johns factotum,
the steward of the Preciosa, was seen as
cending to their level.
give brought the boat round, sir
SCOT the cord and weights p
"Here, sir"
"All right, Wait here till l call you.
Will you come with me for minute or
two, dear? The stair is quite safe close to
the wall"
He helped her up, testing carefully each
step with his own full weight before he let
her venture on it.
"Did you know had been here before,
John?" she took courage to say.
81 guessed it; look here" And he
opened his hand, showing the tiny gold
key. ~ found this, all messed with blood,
where you had dropped it, and that told
the story"
"Were you angry?"
"Angry? My darling As if had
room in my heart for anything but thank
fullness that you were saved to me-" And
he stopped to give her mighty hug.
The Blue Room door stood Open A
tremendous litter was on the hearth; black
ened scraps fpaper, pieces of broken glass,
and particularly evil smell was in the air.
Lynette turned pale and sat down on the
first chair, and John cleared his throat, and
seemed singularly wanting in his accustom-
ed readiness of speech.
"You see, dear-I ought to tell you ev-
erything, you know. It's nasty story
1 didn't care to bother you with it before
could help, but Murgatroyd coming, you
see." Here John ran aground.
"About Lady Mildred ?" suggested Ly-
nette, in hard, forced little voice.
"Exactly SO" said John, foated off
again, ~ knew her, you see, when was
home for the holidays, and thought no end
of her. She was so sweet, so gracious, so
unhappy, something between queen and
saint in my juvenile eyes. made up
lots of romances about her, till one day,
when they all broke down. | was here
good deal. Spencer Caringham and were
school friends, and one Easter 1 found
Ponsonby Caringham, the eldest son, at
home-an awful scamp he was. Spencer
told me no end of queer stories about his
brother, and one day one about Lady Mil
dred, for which gave the poor little 5eggar
licking there and then. That night,
however, Ponsonby tried to get me to take
note to Featherstonehope, and then saw
it was all true, and went back to school dis
gusted and believing all things against all
women-except always my own little sweet
heart. Then l heard of her death, and
that she was to be buried like pauper or
suicide l don't know what put the ro-
mantle notion into my head that /, at least,
would show her honor, and l got away un-
observed, caught night train, and arrived
at St. Brides Church just in time to sec
Mark Featherstone leaving.
"The vault was already boarded up. 1
had brought wreath of white flowers, so
| Just laid it at the closed door and was
going, when I came full on Ponsonby Car
ingham, looking like ghost in the moon
light He went on like madman, raved,
and tried to tear down the boarding of the
vault, and at last flung himself on the grass
before it, crying like a child. Did you
bring that, Orme? he asked, pointing to
the wreath you are good little fellow.
She always liked you got away from
him at last, and back without detection.
Some time after l got letter from Pom
souby, iuclosing two keys. He was going
abroad, into the Turkish service, and he
left these rooms in my care, begging me to
destroy his treasured relics when occasion
required. And tough job it has been,
ended John, stretching himself. "a whole
case filled with things under that table, and
portrait and letters. l burned and
smashed all could, and now I'm going to
uTOMu Itlc ICoG VIC EO W OhO JhShe-
Hullo, Duncan"
The grizzled head of the old sailor ap-
peared in the doorway in answer to the
call 'Just fasten up and weight that,
will you," pointing to a canvas-covered
bundle on the floor "Now, Lynette."
They made their way in shy silence down
the treacherous staircase to its lowest
depth, where door opened out on the face
of the cliff. There was path, and some
rocky steps down to the harbor, where the
yachts boat was in waiting. ado you see
that big rock just under st. Brides
Church ?" John said. "They say there
is a fathomless depth of water there"
John took the oars and Lynette steered
carefully out to the rocky headland. The
cliffs rose black and grim, there was a great
silence on the gray, cold sea, and she shiv-
cred as she took the oars, while John
lifted the heavy bundle and lowered it over
the side as gently as he could. Down,
down it went into the cold, dark water,
with sullen splash and whirl of foam
bells; and the boat, after one great rock,
shot out merrily from the chill shadow into
the first rays of the level sun. Lynettes
heart gave one great bound in accord.
Johns kind eyes were smiling on her, the
last vestige Of her folly at the bottom of
the sea, the world all fresh and glowing in
the warm beams of the new days sun,
Was there ever such happy little woman
since the first sun shone?
Lola looked from her window an hour
or two later.
"Why, Mark 1 might have spared you
and myself nights anxiety about those
young people. Look over there. If they
haven't been out boating before breakfast
Oh, Mark, 1 wonder" sighed Lola, stirred
for moment out Of her satisfied repose,
''if you and were as young, should we be
as blissfully foolish as they are2"
l don't know that we should" replied
Mark, prosaically. "But they may think
themselves lucky when they are as old as
we are if they are half as happy"